LEVITATION night one at Stubbs with The Jesus And Mary Chain and Protomartyr

Clouds rolled in not too long after doors opened at Stubb’s on Thursday, October 27 for the opening night of LEVITATION 2022. The smell of barbeque flooded the air as fans began filing in to see Automatic, Protomartyr, and the night’s headlining act, The Jesus and Mary Chain.

The stage setup included a light-show backdrop that extended upward onto the famous Stubb’s awning, hovering over those within 30 feet of the stage.  It made for a visually immersive experience.

Automatic, the Los Angeles-based trio of Izzy Glaudini (synths and lead vocals), Lola Dompé (drums and vocals), and Halle Saxon (bass and vocals), who are signed to Stones Throw Records put on an impressive set, kicking off the party with catchy synth-laden, bass-heavy numbers, setting up show goers for what would be an intense evening of sonic wonderment.

Protomartyr, consisting of Greg Ahee (guitar), Alex Leonard (drums), and Joe Casey (vocals), and Scott Davidson (bass), immediately electrified the crowd with an emphatic punk-infused roundhouse of a set that propelled the evening’s audience into a frenzy. 

Protomartyr Setlist:
Day Without End
Cowards Starve
Blues Festival
Tarpeian Rock
June 21
Up The Tower
The Devil In His Youth
A Private Understanding
Windsor Hum
Processed By The Boys
Pontiac 87
Jumbo’s
Half Sister

The main event at Stubb’s on opening night of LEVITATION was The Jesus and Mary Chain. The Scottish rock quintet of Jim Reid (vocals and guitar), William Reid (vocals and guitar), Mark Crozer (bass), Scott Von Ryper (guitar) , and Justin Welch (drums), put on a memorable performance, mesmerizing the crowd with a set list spanning decades, stretching from the 80s to their 2022 release, Damage and Joy. 

Izzy Glaudini, keyboardist from Automatic, made a guest appearance with the first song of the encore, “Just Like Honey.” JMC wrapped up a great performance with “All Things Pass” and once controversial song, “Reverence” with the line, “I want to die just like Jesus Christ / I want to die just like J-F-K” which got their song’s video banned from the BBC TV.

The three bands were a perfect pairing to open up the LEVITATION festivities at the historic Red River venue, setting up what could be the event’s best year yet.

Jesus and Mary Chain Set list:
Amputation B
Between Planets
I Love Rock N Roll
April Skies
Head On
Come On
Mo Tucker
Taste of Cindy
Snakedriver
Cracking UpHalfway To Crazy
Something I Can’t Have
Nine Million Rainy Days
Some Candy Talking
Darklands
I Hate Rock N Roll
Encore:
Just Like Honey
All Things Pass
Reverence

All photos by Michael Maly

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